110 appearances. 8 goals. Kevin Kilbane has rightly earned himself legend status amongst
Irish fans.
While a youth player, Kilbane was called up to the England under 18 squad but declined as
he had always wished to represent Ireland. Although born in Preston, Lancashire, with both
of his parents hailing from Mayo and Longford, and with Kevin being an Irish citizen since
birth – there was never going to be any other decision!
Beginning his senior career with Preston North End in 1995, after two seasons, he attracted
attention from other clubs and was sold to West Bromwich Albion for a fee of £1 million in
1997, in the process becoming the Baggies first £1 million player.
After 106 appearances for the Albion, he signed for Peter Reid’s Sunderland in a £2.5 million
deal. His versatility and adaptability earned him the nickname “Zinedine Kilbane” among fans
— a humorous tribute to his consistency and fighting spirit.
On the last day of the transfer window at the start of the 2003–04 season, Kilbane moved
to Everton for just under £1 million, signed by former Preston boss David Moyes.
The Goodison Park fans appreciated his willingness to play in various positions, including in
midfield, at left-back, left-wing, or even as a support striker!
On 31 st August 2006, he signed a three-year deal with Wigan Athletic for an estimated fee of
£2 million. Registering 76 appearances and 2 goals.
After he left the Latics, Kilbane joined Hull City (for a fee believed to be in the region of
£500,000), where he added experience and stability to the squad.
There then followed short-term loan spells at Huddersfield Town (where he helped the team
to a club record 26 league games unbeaten in a season, before their eventual 3–0 defeat in
the playoff final to Peterborough) and Derby County on a six-month loan deal.
In July 2012, he joined his final club Coventry City on an initial one-year deal, being named
captain for the 2012–13 season. He made his final professional appearance as a substitute
in a 2–1 defeat at Brentford on 24 October 2012, before announcing his retirement on 8
December 2012.
After making his international debut for the boys in green against Iceland on 6 th September
1997, he was a key member of Mick McCarthy’s side for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and
South Korea. Unfortunately, Ireland exited the tournament when they lost to Spain in a
penalty shootout when Kilbane, Matt Holland and David Connolly missed their spot kicks.
Despite the second-round heartache, he saw this as the highlight of his career, “It was a
dream to play in the World Cup and to achieve this feat was something I’ll never forget. It is
the ultimate aim for any player to play for their country in the World Cup and after watching
the Irish team in Italy 90 and USA 94, I wanted to feel what it meant to be part of the World
Cup squad. To play in the opening game was something really special, to be part of a team
that lined up in an Irish shirt meant everything.”
He won his 100th cap against Montenegro on 14 th November 2009, and on 2 nd March 2010,
he and Shay Given became the joint most-capped players for the Republic of Ireland, both
earning their 103rd caps in a 2-0 friendly defeat to Brazil. He scored his 8th (and final)
international goal on 7 th September 2010 against Andorra, the first competitive goal for
Ireland at the new Lansdowne Road (Aviva Stadium).
Most notably, Kilbane played an incredible 66 consecutive competitive international games
in a row for Ireland, a testimony to his resilience and dedication.
After hanging up his boots he obtained a degree in Professional Sports Writing and
Broadcasting at Staffordshire University and a career in broadcasting took off, providing
analysis and punditry to outlets including RTE, TV3 and Off the Ball, as well as Newstalk and
on BBC TV and radio work on BBC Five Live.
After relocating to Canada, Kilbane assumed a role as professional analyst on The Sports
Network (TSN).
The hugely popular Kilbane embodied everything that Ireland fans look for in a player. Heart,
commitment, and an immense pride in pulling on the green jersey.
In an age where the declaration of players to the cause is an ongoing stress to fans (will they
declare for Ireland? Or will England poach them?) for the proud Irishman Kilbane, there was
never a choice to be made, emphasising this point he said, “I don’t feel the need to go
chasing players…you’re either Irish or you’re not”!
Explaining his commitment to Ireland, he said, Maybe its a bit of a fantasy or something like
that but I always think to myself personally that I could never have played for another nation,
so to me there was no decision to make. But I understand now that if there are two countries
that are pursuing someone, it seems crazy even saying it to me, then if theres a choice to
make you’re maybe choosing it for a reason of game time now which again, it seems
ludicrous to me, because if I was getting game time for a nation other than Ireland I would
never have felt true to myself”.
Words which are music to the ears of all Irish fans. He would definitely be in with a shout for
a spot in our greatest ever XI, because every team needs a Killa!
